"To restore and conserve fish, wildlife and habitat throughout the state and teach others to do the same."

Because feelings run so deep in the wildlife and environmental arena we are making this a "moderated" blog. All comments will be read by the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy before being posted. Please keep your comments factual, smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Muskrat Lake Wetlands Restored!

On May 16, conservationists from Clinton County
and surrounding areas gathered near St. Johns to celebrate the restoration of
the Muskrat Lake Wetlands.The Lake,
located mostly on state land, was lowered by about two feet in 1972 by a nearby
drainage project and removal of a beaver dam.Areas around the Lake, which were formerly 18-24 inch deep flats used as
spawning and nursery grounds by bass, sunfish, and northern pike, were turned
into dry or muddy areas quickly colonized by reed canary grass, an invasive
exotic species.The restoration brought
the water back up and will not only benefit waterbirds, furbearers, and the
Lake’s resident fish, but thanks to a rock ramp, allow passage of fish from
Stony Creek.

Three sets of rocks (wiers) built with 18-24
inch-diameter boulders were placed across a 35-foot-wide outlet channel
(leading to Stony Creek) to create a five percent slope.It all took place in a 110-foot long
stretch.About 50 acres of shallow water
flooding were restored through the project, which was funded by the Michigan
Wildlife Conservancy and Clinton County.The Timberland Resource Conservation and Development Area Council
coordinated a study of hydrologic conditions, and many other organizations
worked to obtain state approvals for the project.

At the May 16 event, project organizers, including
Gary Fritz of the Clinton County Conservation District, recalled the many
state-imposed administrative hurdles that had to be overcome.It took intensive efforts over the past five
years to get permits for the project, noted Fritz.